Catamaran type life raft



May 29, 1945. G. H. vw. DoosE 2,377,215

CATAMARAN TYPE LIFE RAFT Filed Aug. 31, 1943 4 Sheets-*Sheet l 1 .@rzeZ hfV-Mjoasve I k Bf df/W May 29, 1945.

G. H. W. DOOSE CATAMARAN TYPE LIFE RAFT Filed Aug. 31, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet? ll- |||||||||l v Invventor arz'e Z J Attoruqys May 29, 11945- G. H. w. D oosE l 2,377,215

CATAMARAN TYPE LIFE RAFT Filed Aug. 3l, 1943 Sheets-Sheet 3 I m/entor A @wrz'ez /1 HCOOS@ y By l MaLy 29, 1945,.

G. H. W. DOOSE CATAMARAN TYPE LIFE RAFT 4 SheetsfSheet 4 Filed Aug. 3l, 1945 Patented May 29, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT y OFFICE l 2,377,215 CATAMARAN TYPE LIFE RAFT Gabriel H. W. Doose, New Orleans, La. Application August 31, 1943, Serial No. 500,7!13

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in catamaran life rafts, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which may be inverted or, stated otherwise, used with either side uppermost.

Another very' important object of the invention is to provide a life raft of the aforementioned character comprising unique means for controlling the craft in the water.

Still another very important object of the inventicn is to provide, in a life raft comprising hingedly mounted folding guard rails, novel means for releasably securing said guard rails in operative position.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a catamaran life raft which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong durable, highly efiicient and reliable in use, and which may be manufactured at low cost.

A11 of the foregoing, and still furtherobjects and advantages of the invention will become ap parent from a study f the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference' AFigure 4 is a fragmentary View in vertical longitudinal section, taken rsubstantially on the line 4-4 0f Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective of the i centerboard.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View in side e1evation, showing the means for releasably securing the guard rails in raised position.

Figure '7 is a cross-sectional view through a side portion of the raft, taken substantially on the line l-l of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the locking means for the swinging guard rails.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of an upper portion of one of the guard rails.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in top plan, showing'a modification.

Figure 11 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line II-II of Figure 10. i

Figure 12 is a fragmentary view in vertical section, taken substantially on the line I2-I2 of Figure 10. i

Figure 13 is a fragmentary'view in crosssection, taken substantially on the line I3-I3 of Figure 10.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that reference character I designates a pair oi spaced, parallel, elongated air tanks or drums of suitable length and diameter. Also, the drums I may, if desired, be divided into a multiplicity of air-tight chambers or compartn ments through the medium of suitable partitions or bulkheads. The drums I are mounted between a pair of duplicate decks 2, as indicated in Figure 4, said decks comprising, as indicated in Figure 3, longitudinal planks 3 on crossmrnem bers 4, et cetera. Coaming 5 is provided around the decks 2.

Extending vertically through the stern portions of the decks 2 is a well B as clearly shown .in Figures l and 4. A center board l, which funcn tions `as a skag, is ipivotally mounted at 8 for swinging movement in a vertical plane in the well 6, which centerboard is adapted for use in conjunction with either'of the decks 2. Toward this end, rods 9 are connected to the centerboard 'I for'raising and lowering same from either of the decks 2, A latch It, or other suitable means, releasably secures the centerboard 1 in intermediate or inoperative position in the well 5 between the decks 2.

Forwardly of the Wel1l6, a storage compartment or chamber I2 is provided as shown in Fige ure 4, between the decks 2. The compartment lI2 is for the reception of food, water and various articles of equipment that may be needed. Hatches I3 provide access to the compartment I2 from either of the decks 2.

Bars I4 are mounted on the marginal portions of the decks 2 as shown in Figure 3, in abutting engagement with the coaming I5. Also mounted on the marginal portions of the decks 2 are guards which are designated generally by reference character I5. The guards I5 include posts or stanchions I6 having their lower ends hingedly secured at I'I to the decks 2 as shown more clearly in Figure '7. When the stanchions I6 are in raised or operative position, they abutthe bars I4 and coaming 5. Toward this end, the lower portions of the stanchions IB are recessed, as at I'I', to accommodate the bars I4. Rails I8 are mounted horizontally on the stanchions I6.

Shafts I9 are journaled in bearings 20 which are provided therefor on the bars I4. The recesses I1 in the stanchions I5 also accommodate the shafts I9. Fixed on the shafts I9 are latches or hooks 2l. The hooks 2| are engageable with pins 22 on the stanchons I6 for releasably securing the guards l5 in raised or operative position. Hand levers 23 are fixed on the end portions of the shafts I9 as shown in Figures 1 and 8, for rotating said shafts. If desired,.suitable springs may be operatively connected to the shafts I9 for yieldingly maintaining the hooks 2l in engagement with the pins 22. The guards I5, when in lowered or inoperative position, rest on the decks 2, as suggested in dotted lines in Figure '7 of the drawings. Sockets-2l are provided in the upper ends of certain of the stanchions l5 for the reception of oar locks.

It is thought that the operation of the raft as thus far described will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the raft may be launched with either of the decks 2 uppermost for use. After the raft has been launched, the occupants thereof swing the guards l5 to operative position. The shafts i9 are rocked through the medium of the hand levers 23 for engaging the hooks 2| with the pins 22 for releasably securing the guards I5 in operative position. As illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the centerboard l is then swung downwardly to operative position where it functions as a skag. It will be observed that the centerboard l is mounted in the stern portion of the raft. Thus, the stern will be held into the wind at substantially all times. The guards I5 which are lowermost also function as skags when swung downwardly to open position. The craft may, if desired, be propelled and maneuvered with oars by placing oar locks in the sockets 24. A mast may also be erected on the bow portion of the craft to support a jib, a signal or an awning. The rods 9 are provided with loop-type handles t5 on one end. Rods 2G are insertible through the handles 25 as shown in Figure 1 and engageable across the well 6 for supporting the centerboard l in a vertical depending position and for preventing said rods from being pulled into the well.

In the modiiication illustrated in Figures l0 to i3, inclusive, of the drawings, the decks 2 have openings 2l formed at spaced points in their marginal portions. Bolts 28 are mounted for vertical sliding movement in the decks 2 adjacent the coaming 5. Mounted on the bolts 28, below the decks 2, are keeper bars 29. Coil springs 3B on the upper portions of the bolts 28 yieldingly resist downward movement of the bars 29. Adjusting nuts 3l are threaded on the upper end portions of the bolts 28 for regulating the coil springs 30.

The bars 29 are for releasably securing guards 32 in operative position. The guards 32 include posts or stanchions 33 which are hingedly secured at their lower ends to the decks 2 adjacent the openings 2, as at 3d. The end portions 35 of the stanchions 33, being free, are operable in the openings 2l for engagement with the bars 29.

Horizontal rails 35 mounted on the stanchions 33.

In operation, the guards 52 are simply swung to operative position on the hinges 34. W'hen this occurs, the yend portion 35 of the stanchions 33 swing downwardly through the adjacent openings 21 and depress the bars 29 'against the ten sion of the coil springs 30. When the stanchions 33 reach a vertical position, they are arrested by engagement with the inner walls of the open-- ings 2l. At this point the end portions 35 of the stanchions 53 clear the bars 29 which are now raised to operative position beneath the decks 2 and outwardly of the lower portions 35 of said stanchions. t

It is believed that the many advantages oi a life raft constructed in accordance with the pres-- ent invention will be readily understood, and although preferred embodiments of the device are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. A reversible life raft comprising a pair of' similar vertically spaced decks. a pair of site ed, parallel, elongated drums mounted longit' of the rait between the decks, a Well extein'iing` vertically between the decks and intermediate the drums adjacent one end of the' raft, a centen board pivotally mounted for swinging movement in and movable outwardly of the well below eitl'ier of the decks regardless of which deck is dif cned lowerniost, and means operable from above deck to swing said center board to a, position below the other deck.

2. A life raft comprising a plurality of drums, a decl; mounted on said drums. coa'ming around the deck, bars mounted on the marginal portions of the deck in abutting engagement with the coa-ming. shafts journaled on said bars. stanchions hingedly mounted for vertical swinging movement on the deck and adapted for abutting engagement with the bars and the coaming. rails mounted on the stanchions, pins projecting from the stanchions, and hooks on the shafts engageable with the pins for releasably securing the stanchions in upright position.

3. lA life raft of the character described com prising a plurality of drums, a deck mounted on said drums. said deck having openings therein, vertical bolts slidably mounted in the deck adjacent the openings. bars mounted on the bolts belowtlie deck, springs operatively connected to the bolts above the deck for yieldingly resisting downward movement of the bars, stanchions hingedly mounted on the deck, one end portion of the stanchions being operable in the openings, the bars being `engageable with said one end portion of the stanchions for securing said stanchions in operative position, and rails mounted on the stanchions.

GABRIEL H. W. DOOSE. 

